Questions for Christians

I have few answers but many questions. I ask highly provocative questions in order to encourage us to think. Debate nicely, please.

[questions-for-christians]

For your consideration:

1. What do you think of what Brandon Robbins is saying?

2. Those with language skills, how accurate are his language points?

[questions-for-christians]

Is there anything that cannot be forgiven?

[questions-for-christians]

Do prophets exist today?

[questions-for-christians]

Is gun ownership and Christianity compatible?

[questions-for-christians]

We first see the word Devil pop up in the New Testament was this meant as a name or an adjective?

[questions-for-christians]

Why did the snake talk to Eve and where was Adam when this was going on?

[atheostic]

I like to think that the snake talked to Eve because it was a supporter of women’s education.

Though when it was written it was probably because women were seen as weak and easily manipulated.

[rose-in-a-fisted-glove]

To give a Jewish perspective,

The teaching I was taught was that Adam giving false information to Eve led to an opening for the snake to use.

Gd told Adam not to eat from the fruit of the tree

Adam told Eve that they must not touch the tree

The snake tricked Eve into touching the tree, and when nothing bad happened, had the ability to further lure her closer towards eating the fruit until she does eat it.

Essentially, Adam’s attempts to protect Eve by adding extra barriers to the danger backfired because Eve didn’t know the central dangers that they were building barriers around. Which is why its important (so my childhood synagogue taught) to distinguish Mincha from Halakah.

[questions-for-christians]

What are evil spirits and where do they come from?

[questions-for-christians]

Is it possible to be non-dogmatic about doctrine?

[questions-for-christians]

Is prosper and multiply a command?

[atheostic]

@questions-for-christians

Yes.

The phrase uses imperative forms of the verb, which is how one gives a command in the English language.

A verb in imperative form uses the base form of the main verb, and is used without a subject.

E.g.

“Take a right then turn left.”

“Prosper and multiply.”

“Don’t be afraid.”

“Fetch me my drink.”

[questions-for-christians]

Is why you do something as important as what it is that you do?

[questions-for-christians]

Is prosper and multiply a command?

[quotesfromscripture]

I would say no, not in the way that “Do not eat from the tree” was a command. There is a specific word for “command”, as in “give orders to” or “make a rule”, which is used in Gen 2:16, Gen 6:22, Ex 25:22 and many other places. This word is not used when God tells His creation to be fruitful and multiply.

However, if you believe that every word of God should be obeyed, then yes, to multiply is a command. 

There is a specific way God imparts these instructions to His creations. For example, when God creates plants He does not speak to them or give them a command, even though they still reproduce. When God creates swarms of fish and birds, He blesses them and speaks to them, telling them “peru, urevu, umil’u et ha’arets” which we think of as “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”. 

In Gen 1:28, He blesses the humans and speaks to them, saying “peru, urevu, umil’u et ha’arets” followed by “and subdue the earth and rule the animals”. Earlier God says in Gen 1:26 to “let them rule”, and in Gen 2:15 God wants humans “to work and to watch” the garden. Those latter phrases show intention but aren’t commands, because they are not spoken to the people.

We are also told “a man shall leave his father and mother and cling to his woman” so being fruitful and multiplying gives the idea of spreading out and creating new families, it’s the opposite of being stagnant. 

Interestingly, it also says God blessed the seventh day in Gen 2:3. At that point so far “blessings” had only been for living creatures, and now God blesses a moment in time.

After the Flood, God blesses Noah’s family and tells them this phrase and that the animals Noah brings should abound “uparu weravu”. A similar phrase is told to Ishmael (Gen 17:20) and Jacob (Gen 35:11), and many of Abraham’s descendants. 

And what does the phrase mean? The Hebrew “peru” comes from the word for fruit, so it quite literally is “yall be fruitful”. “Revu” or “rabu” comes from the word for “increase” or “continue” or simply “more”. “uMil” means “and fill”, in the way that a jar can be filled or a prophecy can be fulfilled.

tl;dr God blessed all His intelligent creatures by personally speaking to them and allowing them to be fruitful, succeed, and fill the earth, but humans were given the additional ability to rule over the earth. These aren’t called commands, but they are special gifts from God, and some people may choose to live as if they were commands, because God’s instructions are vitally important. 

[questions-for-christians]

It seems to me that the Christians in the book of Acts were behaving as if Christ’s return would most likely be in their lifetime or there about. Were they mistaken?

[glowing-disciple]

I’m going to answer this with a question: should we do any different?

Jesus taught that his return would be unexpected, like a “thief in the night”. He also warned that many people would be caught unaware, resulting in them missing out on His promises (see: the parable of the ten virgins — Matthew 25 : 1 - 13).

Ultimately, we cannot afford to only be Christians some of the time. Either we are waiting for His return, or we are spiritually asleep.

[sneggleblech]

They were expecting it. The refusal of the majority of Israel to accept Him as Who He is changed things.

[questions-for-christians]

Are thoughts ever sins?

[atheostic]

According to the Bible, absolutely (e.g. even looking at a woman with lust in your heart is considered adultery). 

Which I find pretty messed up; it’s basically making thoughtcrime a thing.

[questions-for-christians]

You didn’t choose God. God chose you. (Discuss)

[questions-for-christians]

Have you ever noticed the hand of God on your life? Reblog and add your experienced.

[questions-for-christians]

One time I was going to a festival with some friends. We were to meet up in London and travel the rest of the way together. Foolishly I used all my money to get a cab to what turned out to be the wrong station. With very little cash and no idea how to get to the right place, I closed my eyes and prayed. 

When I opened my eyes there was a stoner dude standing in front of me. “Are you alright?” he asked. “You remind me of my friend who goes to festivals”.

I told him my story and he grabbed my bag and said follow me.

I followed. He got me on the right bus and walked me to the right train station. There I met my friends and the rest of the weekend was great.

[almosthasaface]

I got left at a waterpark I was visiting with my youth group once. It was across the city to get home and late at night. I don’t remember if or how I prayed but another youth group happened to be there the same night and drove me back to my church. I don’t know how I would’ve gotten home if it weren’t for them

[questions-for-christians]

Have you ever noticed the hand of God on your life? Reblog and add your experienced.

[questions-for-christians]

One time I was going to a festival with some friends. We were to meet up in London and travel the rest of the way together. Foolishly I used all my money to get a cab to what turned out to be the wrong station. With very little cash and no idea how to get to the right place, I closed my eyes and prayed. 

When I opened my eyes there was a stoner dude standing in front of me. “Are you alright?” he asked. “You remind me of my friend who goes to festivals”.

I told him my story and he grabbed my bag and said follow me.

I followed. He got me on the right bus and walked me to the right train station. There I met my friends and the rest of the weekend was great.

[questions-for-christians]

It seems to me that the Christians in the book of Acts were behaving as if Christ’s return would most likely be in their lifetime or there about. Were they mistaken?